WE are not surprised that Russell Martin has lasted this long as Saints decision-makers are reluctant to lose their promotion-winning manager.

They have kept their cards close to their chest since the start of the season but have always been clear that Martin would be given plenty of time.

Many supporters and external commentators feel that time must be running out with Saints rock bottom of the Premier League and appearing hopeless.

They have won five points from an available 42, four fewer than 19th, and have continually shot themselves in the foot in league matches.

Martin's side have conceded nine goals directly from errors, nearly double as many as any other team and one shy of Brentford's league-high total last season.

All six previous teams to lose as many as 11 of their first 14 Premier League games in a season were relegated - nobody has come back from this.

Although they were only beaten 5-1 by Chelsea, it was the most a team has created at an opposition ground since expected goal records began.

So why have Saints not sacked Martin already? Does that now have to change?

Strong man manager who retains the support of the playing squad

The biggest factor counting in Martin's favour is the support he has within the dressing room among club veterans and new signings alike.

When Martin was reportedly under pressure following the defeat at AFC Bournemouth, it was this they were looking to as a deciding factor.

Could he keep the squad together on the right path and committed to his style of play? The answer to that alone in the matches that followed was yes.

It has rarely come with results but Saints believe they have been unfortunate with VAR and they have tussled with the league's best opposition.

They also have last season's record as evidence of Martin's man-management, given the impressive job he did with a fractured group. 

He has previously joked that nearly the whole squad knocked on his door asking to leave ahead of pre-season last summer - but he turned that around.

Saints have won one Premier League match under Russell MartinSaints have won one Premier League match under Russell Martin (Image: Stuart Martin)

Replacing Martin would be expensive and provides no guarantees 

Should Saints opt to part ways with Martin, they will have to pay off his contract (which runs until 2027) and that of all of his support staff.

He brought his own assistant, goalkeeping coach, analyst and fitness coach and also hired long-term mentor Colin Calderwood while in the role.

Martin signed a new three-year deal in the summer which could prove costly, although it is not known if this was stipulated following promotion.

READ MORE: Every word Southampton boss Martin said after Chelsea defeat

Saints are already against Profit and Sustainability rules, with which several clubs have tussled, and there has only been two manager changes this season.

The club have attempted to bring the wage structure under control at first team and at academy level since coming under new ownership.

They have cut the workforce all across club and stadium staff but would undo all their savings in one go with such a managerial change. 

The cost of relegation is even more steep but Saints would want to be sure changing manager would actually give them a better chance of survival. 

No Premier League team has survived from the position Saints are inNo Premier League team has survived from the position Saints are in (Image: Stuart Martin)

Ownership are scarred from last Premier League season's mistakes 

The owners are likely scarred from mistakes they made during the last Premier League season, in which three managers failed to stave off relegation.

Saints ended up paying Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones and Martin all at the same time last season while contending with a loss of Premier League finances. 

They were relegated without even a whimper, despite spending £15million on managerial changes and a further £60million on players in January.

The resultant financial chaos threatened to be ruinous for the club if not for Adam Armstrong's goal against Leeds United at Wembley. 

It is no surprise they have looked to avoid a repeat of that if they could and Martin's side have been just about competitive enough for them to justify it.

If they were to hire a new manager now - and it is unlikely to be someone of the ilk of Graham Potter - there are no guarantees they survive until May.

Saints objectively have one of the worst squads in the league so whoever comes in is probably going to lose a lot of games and erode any goodwill.

Someone might be a brilliant managerial appointment next summer but could already be laughed out of the building by May - meaning more expense. 

They believe Martin will be among the best men for the job next season

Saints are probably going to be relegated from the Premier League so it is the job of the board to look ahead and make sensible decisions.

If we could write off the season now, fast forward to August and start a new Championship season now, the board would be confident in Martin.

He has already won promotion once - via the play-offs, yes, but in a one-of-a-kind Championship season with four very good teams going at it.

READ MORE: Why Southampton's Stephens is set for extended red card ban

Martin has three years of experience in the second tier and we have seen that his style works emphatically against teams of lower quality. 

However, May is a long way away and fans are beginning to get frustrated. They have yet to turn on Martin inside the ground but have voiced displeasure.

The club were likely sympathetic to Martin for Wednesday's hammering against Chelsea, given the number of players he had unavailable. 

But unless he can start getting results, Martin is not going to last until May with any kind of support from the fans. They are already fed up. 

Do the board now have to act and make a managerial change?

Martin can have no complaints if Saints now decide to axe him. He has been given more time than any reasonable boss can expect.

Saints are currently on course for about 14 or 15 Premier League points and will just about get by without taking Derby County's unwanted record.

Martin has every right to feel aggrieved by controversial VAR decisions and his players letting him down in crucial moments of games they should have won.

But for every bit of misfortune that they have been dealt, there are examples of costly naivety and poor managerial judgement.

His style of play is becoming impossible to defend and his insistence on maintaining it with half a squad against potential title-challengers is ludicrous.

Having conceded 63 goals in the Championship last season, Martin's side have now shipped a league second-high of 30 in 14 Premier League matches.

Sport Republic and the Saints board were all in attendance for the defeat to Chelsea and will have heard the supporters making their thoughts known.

Yet, although no clarity has been offered, the feeling has always been that a sacking is not imminent. They had previously mooted going public with support. 

The club have already scheduled his pre-match press conference ahead of the trip to Aston Villa for 1pm on Friday if that is any clue towards their decision.

After such a positive outlook following the 1-1 draw at Brighton, will an injury and suspension-ridden defeat to Chelsea have changed their mind that much?